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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-11-02 Daily Xml
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Question Time

Black Frost

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding black frost in the Clare Valley.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: On the morning of Thursday 26 October, the Clare Valley experienced an unprecedented frost event. Frost conditions began at midnight and continued to approximately 7.30am. Low-lying vineyards were particularly hit hard, and the most severely affected areas were the southern part of the valley, including Watervale, Leasingham and Auburn. The damage of this event is still being assessed by growers, but there will be significant crop losses for the 2024 wine grape vintage in the district.

Growers have advised that there is limited time in the growing season for vines to push new buds and ripen fruit from secondary new shoots. My questions to the minister are:

1. Has the minister or her office reached out to community leaders and industry stakeholders in the affected region to hear directly from them on the impact of the damage?

2. If needed, will the minister consider support for these individuals and businesses affected by the black frost event, similar to support given with previous hail, flood and fire events?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:21): I thank the honourable member for her question. I note that this topic was covered in the Stock Journal today, which is always useful as well. My department, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, is of course aware of the significant frost event on 26 October, and it has had severe impacts on grapegrowers in the region, particularly around the townships of Auburn, Leasingham and Watervale.

PIRSA is working with the Clare Valley Grape and Wine Association to investigate intelligence and technology available to assist the CVGWA to undertake an impact assessment to better understand the quantum of damage. The CVGWA has also distributed a recently published SA assistance guide for grapegrowers and winemakers to all members, and they will also be hosting a community meeting in Clare today, at which PIRSA will be represented.

The Wine Grape Council of South Australia has also indicated that it has received reports of the frost impacts in parts of the Barossa and Langhorne Creek, and PIRSA is continuing to work around seeking information on those instances.

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